Record-Breaking Temperatures and Wildfires Plague Europe

Record-Breaking Temperatures and Wildfires Plague Europe
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According to an article from The Guardian, extreme heat is setting new temperature records across Europe, leading to an increase in intense and widespread wildfires. In south-west France, several cities, including Angoulême, Bergerac, and Bordeaux, recorded temperatures up to 12°C above normal. Croatia also saw new records in Šibenik (39.5°C) and Dubrovnik (38.9°C), as forest fires spread along its coast.

The heatwave’s main characteristic is its long duration and broad geographic reach. Experts at Météo France note that over half of the country’s heatwaves since 1947 have occurred in the last 15 years, a clear indicator of climate change. The dry vegetation created by the high temperatures is described as a “molotov cocktail” for wildfires. This year, wildfires in Europe have already burned over 400,000 hectares, which is 87% more than the average for the last two decades.

The heat is also causing significant health impacts, with red heat alerts issued in many cities. A young boy died of heatstroke in Italy, and a man was killed in a wildfire in Spain. Experts estimate that the annual death toll from heat could increase significantly by the end of the century.